David Kimani is still reeling from his maiden win at the Scrabble Association of Uganda Championships/ Africa Scrabble Championships qualifiers played in Jinja, Uganda over the weekend.
Kimani, who is seeded fourth, had a bad start on Saturday — losing four out of 11 games but won all his matches on Sunday to claim the title.
He said returning to Eldoret with the title from the event was a fulfilling achievement.
He also described the win as a huge surprise after coming up against some of the best players in the region including Kenya One Allan Oyende and Ugandan Edgar Ondongkara.
“I am happy to have won the title by beating multiple champions. It was an honour to play against them and a bonus to be crowned the champion,” said Kimani.
The two-day event brought together top Kenyan and Ugandan scrabblers as they suoght slots to the ASC Championships to be held in Lusaka Zambia.
“This is my first win since I began my scrabble career," said Kimani.
Kimani had a terrible start, falling to Ugandan Kenneth Kaheru but recovered well with victory over Tonny Kyobe, Dan Mayanja, Kenyan Joash Manyasa and Armstrong Tinka.
He then lost to Richard Geria before beating top seed and Oyende, Derrick Magaya and Chris Ntege. He then lost to Odongkara and Ivan Sentego to finish day one in eighth place.
Come Sunday, he was on fire when he shone over Scrabble Kenya chairman Bernard Amuke, Manyasa, Odongkara and Geria, among others in the second and third rounds.
“I want to get that slot to compete for Kenya at the ASC championships. Making it to Team Kenya is not easy,” added Kimani.
Ugandan Geria was second, Manyasa third with top seed Oyende fourth.
